"Young Goodman Brown": One Step from Complete Darkness

What is it about midnight premieres of Batman movies that captivates audiences? What compels millions to embrace the stories of Bruce Wayne and other similar figures, like the Punisher? These characters lack superhuman abilities, must conceal their identities from almost everyone, and often find themselves despised and feared. Yet, they resonate with us on a profound level. This phenomenon is reminiscent of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” where readers are drawn to the protagonist despite his interactions with the ominous figure of Lucifer. The allure of these dark and complex characters lies in their humanity. They are relatable, grappling with sin and despair—qualities that make us human. We can connect with these vigilantes because we, too, have faced our own struggles, albeit perhaps not as intensely. Ultimately, these figures share a common thread: they fight valiantly to protect others, often standing on the precipice of becoming the very darkness they oppose. Batman, known as “the Dark Knight,” embodies this struggle, wielding his inner turmoil as a weapon against evil. Similarly, Goodman Brown represents the modern anti-hero, shaped by tragedy and navigating the fine line between good and evil while clinging to his remaining sense of virtue.

**The Descent into Darkness**

What drives Goodman Brown to the brink of darkness? It is the same force that propels every individual toward desperation: profound tragedy. For Batman, the loss of his parents ignited his journey to becoming the world’s greatest detective. For Brown, it is the moment he discovers that his wife, Faith, is partaking in a wicked ceremony. His despair is palpable when he sees one of Faith's pink ribbons fall from above. “My Faith is gone!” (Hawthorne 392), he cries, revealing his disillusionment. Just moments earlier, he had vowed to stand firm against the devil with “Heaven above, and Faith below” (391). The dual meanings of “Faith” and “faith” are significant in the narrative. While one refers to Goodman Brown’s wife and the other to his belief in Christ, they intertwine in his mind. He has placed all his hope for salvation in Faith, even as he sets out with a “present evil purpose” (387). As he encounters Lucifer, Brown becomes increasingly resistant to temptation during their journey through the woods. He desperately wishes to escape the Devil’s snare (Levy 1) and ultimately refuses to proceed further after witnessing a conversation between Satan and Goody Cloyse. Faith serves as his anchor, prompting him to question, “Is that any reason why I should quit my Faith?” (Hawthorne 390). She represents everything to him, akin to how a child relies on their parents. When he realizes that Faith has succumbed to the path of destruction, Brown is thrust into despair, spiraling into a transformation that makes him more terrifying than Satan himself.

**The Source of Power**

What empowers Batman to vanquish the most nefarious foes of Gotham, including the Joker and Bane? While he possesses wealth, intellect, and physical prowess, Bruce Wayne’s true strength lies in his ability to confront and harness the darkness within him. Batman embodies fear, and similarly, Goodman Brown becomes a manifestation of that fear. After losing Faith, he transforms into “the chief horror of the scene” (392), teetering on the edge of sanity. He defiantly proclaims, “Come witch, come wizard, come Indian powwow, come devil himself! And here comes Goodman Brown” (392). He acknowledges his descent into darkness, becoming what Puritans are meant to oppose, yet he remains unfazed. He compares himself to the devil, asserting, “You may as well fear them as he fears you!” (392). Brown was never a saint; he began his journey down the Devil’s path from the outset. However, it is only after losing all hope that he becomes a “demoniac,” racing through the dark forest to the heathen ceremony. The setting—a pitch-black forest at night—symbolizes “the deceit and darkness of man’s heart” (Soler 1). This is particularly true for Brown after he loses Faith and succumbs to the world’s darkness, seizing the devil’s staff. The woods, fraught with dangers, become a reckless playground for Brown. He descends into this abyss “with a disappearance of self” (Soler 1), ultimately losing his identity and becoming a monster. To combat darkness, one must sometimes embrace it, transforming into something truly horrifying.

**A Flicker of Hope**

Just when all seems lost for both Batman and Goodman Brown, a glimmer of hope emerges that prevents them from surrendering entirely to darkness. This glimmer acts as a tether, keeping them from crossing into the abyss of “essential iniquity” (Humma 425). Every individual is a sinner, but when one succumbs to the pervasive sin surrounding them, it becomes challenging to discern where to draw the line. For Batman, this line is embodied in his vow never to kill, regardless of the villain’s atrocities. For Brown, it is the realization that his beloved Faith can still be redeemed. Without this guiding principle, Batman risks becoming indistinguishable from the criminals he opposes. Without Faith, Brown finds himself on the same level as Satan, trapped in “an unending cycle of misery” (McCabe 1). When Brown does not see Faith among the wicked assembly, he experiences a rekindling of hope: “hope came into his heart” (Hawthorne 393). He begins to ponder whether his fears were unfounded, as his beloved Faith is absent from the gathering. Yet, having ventured too close to the fire, he is drawn toward the devil’s voice, succumbing to the “sympathy of all that was wicked in his heart” (Hawthorne 393). Brown's pursuit of evil to save his wife leads him perilously close to the edge. When he discovers that Faith is another “convert,” panic ensues, and he implores her, “Look up into Heaven and resist the Wicked One!” (Hawthorne 395). Upon returning to town, he walks past Faith without recognition, having lost the very thing he fought for: Faith, the one he once vowed to follow to Heaven. In his quest to save her, he has become a version of evil incarnate, ultimately doomed to inhabit a world where trust is shattered (McCabe 1). Unlike Batman, whose moral code keeps him grounded, Brown loses the only reason that propelled him down the dark path in the first place. He sought to protect, but in doing so, he found only heartache and despair. This encapsulates the real tragedy of Goodman Brown’s tale: a man who endeavored to save someone he loved, yet ultimately failed.

**Conclusion**

There is truly nothing new under the sun. The reason for Batman's enduring popularity mirrors that of Goodman Brown's character: the dark, relatable hero archetype. These figures resonate with us because they embody humanity in its struggles and complexities. We all possess a dark side, and it is this willingness to confront their inner demons that draws us to Batman and Brown. Whether saving Gotham from villains or attempting to rescue a loved one from the clutches of evil, sometimes it is necessary to confront darkness with darkness, wrestling with the very demons that threaten to consume us.

**Works Cited**

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." 1835. Volume B: 1820-1865. Ed. Nina Bayum and Robert S. Levine. New York City: W.W. Norton and Co., 2012. 386-95. Print.

Humma, John B. "'Young Goodman Brown' and the Failure of Hawthorne's Ambiguity." Colby Quarterly 9.8 (1971): 425-31. Colby Quarterly. Web. 21 Sept. 2013. .

Levy, Leo B. "The Problem of Faith in 'Young Goodman Brown.'" Journal of English and Germanic Philology: 1-11. Rpt. in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Juliet Byington. Vol. 95. Detroit: Gale Group, 2007. 375-87. Print.

Soler, Angie. "The Journey Into the Puritan Heart: Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown.'" Rev. of Young Goodman Brown. American Literature Research and Analysis. Ed. Jim Wohlpart. Florida Gulf Coast University, 1998. Web. 21 Sept. 2013. .

McCabe, Michael E. "The Consequences of Puritan Depravity and Distrust as Historical Context for Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown.'" Rev. of Young Goodman Brown. American Literature Research and Analysis Web Site. Ed. Jim Wohlpart. Florida Gulf Coast University, 1998. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.